• Head to a casino with $20 ($10 in my case) in change and play the slot machines. They often serve free cocktails on the casino floor (source: cosmo)
• Pick up a couple of cheap plastic sleds at your local sporting-goods or hardware store and go sledding. Warm up afterward by roasting s’mores on your stove top. (source: cosmo)
• Stay in and rent a movie.
• Go enjoy the last weekend on winterlude and try one of the restaurants for the tastes of winterlude.
• Come help J. finish her puzzle.
• Go through your winter clothing and make a donation at a local Salvation Army.
• Make some money, by dropping off all your empties at the beer store.
• Don’t forget to drink tea and knit.

Over my lunch break, I was able to donate 900 grains of rice. How much will you donate?

This website was named one of the Top 50 Websites from Time Magazine.

My list of things to do in 2008 is going to be wrapped up soon. I’ll admit that this year, I didn’t work too hard on trying to complete my list.

Some things that I have done before 2009:

• buy a house
• buy a king size head board
• buy fresh produce at Ottawa’s farmers market
• buy king size bed
• buy more clothing
• buy something from workshop boutique
• do something romantic in April
• do something romantic in April (a.’s turn)
• do something romantic in February
• do something romantic
• do something romantic in January
• do something romantic in July
• do something romantic in July (a’s turn)
• do something romantic in June
• do something romantic in June (a’s turn)
• do something romantic in march
• do something romantic in march (a.’s turn)
• do something romantic in may
• do something romantic in may (a.’s turn)
• eat at the Sparks Street Mall Chicken and Rib Cook-Off
• get a pedicure and a manicure
• get a puppy
• get new glasses
• get tickets to be in a-channel’s live audience
• get to goodlife fitness membership
• go on a rollercoaster in Las Vegas
• go on the haunted walk of Ottawa
• go see a concert
• go see Dirty Dancing in Toronto
• go see the Cirque de Soleil’s presentation of Love: The Beatles
• go see We Will Rock You
• go to a Spins and Needles event
• go to Disco Bingo at least once this year
• go to new york
• have a garage sale
• have a hot dog from a street vendor
• pay off visa
• spend a whole day eating junk food without feeling guilty
• spend three months getting your body into optimum shape
• take a bikram yoga class
• take a Pilates class
• take pictures of everything in Las Vegas
• visit Las Vegas
• walk The Strip in Las Vegas
• watch Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
• watch when Harry met sally

Things to do before 2009

• be an extra in a film
• do Body Pump – 3 times in one week
• feed the ducks at dow’s lake
• get my driver’s licence
• go see a Blue Jays game
• go see an Ottawa Rapids game
• go see the Grand Canyon
• go skinny-dipping at midnight in the South of France
• go to Markerfaire
• go top karting
• go ziplining
• knit a pair of slippers
• learn to crochet
• learn to make sugar-free jam with blueberries
• make a dog bed
• participate in at min of 3 craft sales this year
• participate in the Run for the Cure
• plan a picnic at Andrew Hayden Park
• plant a tree
• play volleyball at Sammy’s Pizza in Dunrobin, ON
• send a message in a bottle (diy)
• send my mom a dozen roses
• sing a great song in front of an audience
• spend a day at Britannia beach
• spend a day at Kittawa Camping in Enburn
• spend a day at Mooney’s bay
• spend a night in the Ottawa jail hostel
• spend a whole day eating whole foods
• take a lululemon class (Rideau or Westboro)
• take a tour of parliament hill
• take a workshop at Workshop Boutique
• take someone on a Rideau Canal boat ride
• visit Little Ray’s Reptile Zoo
• visit Ottawa Lusk Caves
• visit Rideau hall
• visit the Canada Science and Technology Museum
• visit the currency museum
• visit the Hershey factory in smith falls
• visit the national gallery of Canada
• volunteer this year
• watch breakfast at tiffany’s
• watch Ocean’s Eleven
• watch the changing of the guard
• watch Vegas Vacation

I think that for 2009, I will create a similar list, but this time, I’ll try and complete it all before 2010. While I’m in Cuba, I’ll have to think of fun things that I can do this year.

One thing that I would like to do while in Cuba is to learn how to smoke a cigar. A long time ago, I used to smoke cigarettes and every single time I try and smoke a cigar, I inhale. I think I need some professional guidance on how to smoke a cigar.

What’s on your list for 2009?

It’s funny. Every day, when I get to work, I pull out my agenda. I add notes, add tasks, and add reminders; pretty much everything that I need to know is in my agenda. You want to know what I’m doing in three Tuesdays from now, just ask me. I’ll be able to tell you, because it’s in here.

I love it when some evenings, there is nothing written in my agenda to-do after 5:30pm. It feels like I have an evening to do nothing. I love it. When this happens, I will write  in about a movie that I would like to watch (The Santa Clause on SunTV) or what I would like to make for dinner (African Peanut Soup). Everything gets written into my agenda.

Last night, I had written to choose a gift from the World Vision Catalogue and watch The Santa Clause. Unfortunately, neither of this happened. Five minutes before I had to leave work, A. said that he had to work late and would have some errands to do for his big meeting today. I had already arranged with him to drop of a certain mouse house for local blogger, so this sort of worked out for both of us.

Around 4:00pm, I walked home from work and realized that I didn’t have any tomato soup to make the African Peanut Soup. So I put back on my boots and headed to GT Boutique.

Once I left the house, I headed to Wellington Cleaners to pick up a GIANT package. Apparently, my notice got stuck in the mail box and this package has been there for a couple of days. After, I went to Giant Tiger to pick up 2 cans of tomato soup (some wheat puffs and peanuts) and then I was finally able to head home. On the way home, a friend of mine, whom I haven’t seen in ages, saw me on the street and stop to chat for a bit. About 20min or so later, I got home. At home, I started making the soup, then A arrived. He said that he had to leave again in about 10min for work. So then I made the soup super speed, ate and left to go to Gatineau to pick up some items and drop them off at the Chateau Cartier.

After the Chateau, we went into MEC in Westboro to buy a backpack for me. Yeah! I finally found one. It’s the MEC Pika Plus Daypack (only $12!). After MEC, we went to a peek inside the fishbowl’s house to drop off the mouse house (it was very nice to meet you and your family Andrea!) and then we had to go to Vanier to pick up and drop off car parts.

While in Vanier, we stopped in and spoke to my brother for a little bit to see how he was doing with the strike and all. Unfortunately, my brother doesn’t have a car and can’t get to school (Carleton) or work (Gatineau) very easily. I hope he has an action plan today, looks like this strike is in it for the long haul.

After dropping the car parts off in Vanier, we finally went home.

I was just talking to my mom on the phone the other day, she was wondering how I was doing. I said okay, but that things are very busy lately. She thinks it’s great that we’re so busy. I do not. I am happy and thankful that we are sticking to our advent calendar this year. During the summer, I felt like we were so busy that I didn’t get to see summer! I have a feeling that if we didn’t do this advent calendar, we would feel the same way with the holiday season and that would not make J. very happy.

Tonight will hopefully be a little quieter. This evening, I have yoga with April and then I plan on going home… having a bath and then going to bed.

I’m really confused. I read some where that you could return your Bisphenol A bottles for a refund without receipts. Has anyone done this yet?

I have two of these Rubbermaid endurance water bottles, a Nalgene bottle and one Starbucks water bottle that I would consider returning. If I do return them, I would like some sort of a refund, otherwise I will probably hang on to them.

Today, I would like to purchase a new water bottle. I like the design for the SIGG bottles, but am not stuck on them. Do you have any suggestions for a new water bottle?

- J.

update May 13: I still haven’t purchased one of these water bottles. Does anyone know where to pick one up in the downtown core? Rideau Centre?

Update later May 13: I just purchased this new SIGG bottle: Hopefully I get it before the long weekend. Bought it from Curbside Cycle. So far good service, but $10 shipping!

If are going to see the 67’s play at the Civic Centre this Friday, don’t forget to bring Teddy too!

 This Friday, is the Ottawa 67’s annual Teddy Bear Toss. Fans will be allowed to throw new teddy bears on the ice, after the 67’s make their first goal.

Anyone participating?

- J.

Oh my goodness! Was I ever surprised to see my blue lacy pair of panties that I bought in Halifax and were 1 size too small for me, featured in today’s Metro. (to the left)

On Friday, Spins and Needles was hosting a Special Panty Raid Fundraiser. If you donated a pair of underwear you could get $1.00 off cover. So, I look a look in my bag of goodies, that I was going to send to Value Village and found a pair of panties that still had the tags on them.

I just love this cause, because I can understand how uncomfortable it would be and how difficult it would be to find, a new pair of underwear when homeless.

Here is the article in today’s Ottawa Metro by Tracey Tong:

“Before this week, I’d never met Kimberly Culley.

Having spoken to the 24-year-old only over the phone, I knew little about her personally and had no clue what she looked like.

Yet, for our first meeting, I knew exactly what to get her — a low-cut, cleavage-enhancing black underwire bra.

Under normal circumstances, it would be completely inappropriate for lingerie to change hands between two heterosexual strangers. The bra didn’t even fit her. But Culley was thrilled to receive it.

The founder of Capital Panty Raid, Culley and her husband Alex started collecting new underwear for donation to local shelters in September, after she heard about Calgary author Susan Scott’s encounter with a homeless woman.

“All she wanted was a pair of underwear,” Culley recalled.

With a goal to collect 2,000 pairs of underwear before December, Culley has around 1,300 pairs now.

“The idea has taken off,” Culley said. “I have no shame when it comes to asking people for underwear.”

In addition to collecting panties and bras, Culley collects underwear for men and children, as well as socks and undershirts.

“I received a lot of thongs and lacy underwear and itty-bitty panties from this one group,” Culley said. “But for the most part, people have been pretty practical. I haven’t received any edible undies, or anything really risqué.”

She’s expecting it to happen, though. “Someone’s going to have a good sense of humour and send something fun in.”

Alex Culley said he’s gotten “funny looks” when he tells people he’s collecting undergarments. Still, it’s been rewarding.

“I do most of the deliveries, so I get to see the people who are impacted,” he said.

“Keeping it fun is key,” Kimberly Culley said. “You need to somehow overcome personal obstacles when you’re discussing homelessness and underwear. You don’t often hear the two together.”

Culley knows what need feels like. When she was 16, she and her mother left an abusive situation.

“We didn’t have underwear, clothes, nothing,” she said. “I know what it feels like not to have a pair of underwear. You don’t feel good about yourself.

“New underwear gives you your dignity back. I want giving underwear to be as second nature as giving food.”

To drop your drawers for a good cause, call Culley at 613-266-6319 or e-mail capitalpantyraid@gmail.com.”

So if you have a old pair of underwear that you bought a while ago and haven’t worn them, send them in to the Capital Panty Raid. They’ll find someone who needs them.

- J.

“A child dies every three seconds as a result of extreme poverty.

Poverty is not inevitable. If we have the will to act — we can Make Poverty History.”

Stand Up and Speak Out against poverty on October 16 & 17.

I have some of those white ‘Make Poverty History‘ bans for sale ($1.00). If you want one, please visit the Apple Banana Cantaloupe website to order.

*image has been taken from the Make Poverty History website.

- J.

I am a very big dog lover. I would love to have my own in Ottawa, unfortunately I can’t own one at the moment (even though I really really want too).

I was brainstorming the other day to see how I could help the Ottawa Humane Society in my own way. Since I can’t afford to donate a large sum of money, I decided to make Safety Pins for a Cause.

Each Animal Safety Pin for a Cause costs $2.00(+ shipping) and all the proceeds will go to the Ottawa Humane Society.

Show you care by buying one of these pins. You can buy Animal Safety Pins for a Cause here.

If you have any questions about the product, please do not hesitate to email me at applebananacantaloupe@gmail.com.

In case you’re wondering, here is what the Ottawa Human Society does:

Each day we strive to fulfill our mission: To work in and with our community to provide leadership in the humane treatment of all animals, to address the causes of animal suffering, to encourage people to take responsibility for their animal companions and to provide care for animals who are neglected, abused, exploited, stray or homeless.

- J.